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Docs](https://docs.paloaltonetworks.com/search) Close search modal [Deploy Bravely --- Secure your AI transformation with Prisma AIRS](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/deploybravely?ts=markdown) [](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/?ts=markdown) 1. [Cyberpedia](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia?ts=markdown) 2. [Identity Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/identity-security?ts=markdown) 3. [Access Management](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/access-management?ts=markdown) 4. [What Is Authentication and Authorization?](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-authentication-and-authorization?ts=markdown) Table of Contents * [What Is Access Management?](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/access-management?ts=markdown) * [Understanding Access Management](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/access-management#understanding?ts=markdown) * [What Are the Key Components of Access Management?](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/access-management#what?ts=markdown) * [Types of Access Management Solutions](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/access-management#types?ts=markdown) * [Implementing Access Management](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/access-management#implementing?ts=markdown) * [Access Management FAQs](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/access-management#faqs?ts=markdown) * [What Is Access Control?](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/access-control?ts=markdown) * [Access Control Explained](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/access-control#explained?ts=markdown) * [What Are Different Types of Access Control?](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/access-control#different?ts=markdown) * [Benefits of Effective Access Control Systems](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/access-control#benefits?ts=markdown) * [Access Control Use Cases](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/access-control#use-cases?ts=markdown) * [DSPM and Access Control](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/access-control#dspm?ts=markdown) * [Access Control FAQs](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/access-control#faqs?ts=markdown) * [What Is CIAM (Customer Identity and Access Management)?](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-ciam?ts=markdown) * [CIAM Explained](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-ciam#ciam?ts=markdown) * [CIAM Architecture and Security Components](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-ciam#architecture?ts=markdown) * [CIAM Versus Traditional IAM for Workforce Users](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-ciam#users?ts=markdown) * [CIAM and the Zero Trust Security Model](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-ciam#model?ts=markdown) * [CIAM Implementation: Attacker Behavior and Mitigation](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-ciam#mitigation?ts=markdown) * [Customer Identity and Access Management (CIAM) FAQs](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-ciam#faqs?ts=markdown) * [What Is Single Sign-On (SSO)? Benefits, Risks, And Best Practices](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-single-sign-on-sso?ts=markdown) * [Why Single Sign-On Matters](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-single-sign-on-sso#why?ts=markdown) * [How Single Sign-On Works](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-single-sign-on-sso#how?ts=markdown) * [SSO Features and Functions](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-single-sign-on-sso#sso?ts=markdown) * [Business Benefits of Single Sign-On](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-single-sign-on-sso#business?ts=markdown) * [Security Cautions and Best Practices](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-single-sign-on-sso#security?ts=markdown) * [SSO FAQs](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-single-sign-on-sso#faqs?ts=markdown) * [What Is Passwordless Authentication?](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-passwordless-authentication?ts=markdown) * [Passwordless Authentication Explained](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-passwordless-authentication#explained?ts=markdown) * [The Problem With Passwords](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-passwordless-authentication#problem?ts=markdown) * [How Passwordless Authentication Works](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-passwordless-authentication#how?ts=markdown) * [How Passwordless Fits With SSO and MFA](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-passwordless-authentication#fits?ts=markdown) * [Passwordless Authentication Benefits](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-passwordless-authentication#benefits?ts=markdown) * [FAQs](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-passwordless-authentication#faqs?ts=markdown) * Authentication and Authorization Explained * [Authentication and Authorization Explained](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-authentication-and-authorization#explained?ts=markdown) * [Differentiating Authentication from Authorization](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-authentication-and-authorization#authentication?ts=markdown) * [Authorization Models: RBAC, ABAC, and Policy Enforcement](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-authentication-and-authorization#models?ts=markdown) * [Lateral Movement and Attacker Workflow](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-authentication-and-authorization#workflow?ts=markdown) * [Cloud Security Implications for Authorization](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-authentication-and-authorization#cloud?ts=markdown) * [Zero Trust Alignment with Access Control](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-authentication-and-authorization#control?ts=markdown) * [Authentication and Authorization FAQs](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-authentication-and-authorization#faqs?ts=markdown) * [What is BeyondCorp?](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-beyondcorp?ts=markdown) * [Why Organizations Use BeyondCorp](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-beyondcorp#why?ts=markdown) * [How BeyondCorp Works](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-beyondcorp#how?ts=markdown) * [How BeyondCorp Relates to Zero Trust](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-beyondcorp#relate?ts=markdown) * [What is the Evolution of Multifactor Authentication](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-the-evolution-of-multi-factor-authentication?ts=markdown) * [Drivers for the Evolution of MFA](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-the-evolution-of-multi-factor-authentication#drivers?ts=markdown) * [Brief History of Multi-Factor Authentication](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-the-evolution-of-multi-factor-authentication#brief?ts=markdown) * [The Future of Authentication](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-the-evolution-of-multi-factor-authentication#future?ts=markdown) * [Evolution of MFA FAQs](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-the-evolution-of-multi-factor-authentication#faqs?ts=markdown) * [What Is the Principle of Least Privilege?](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-the-principle-of-least-privilege?ts=markdown) * [How does the principle of least privilege (PoLP) work?](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-the-principle-of-least-privilege#how?ts=markdown) * [Why Is the Principle of Least Privilege Important?](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-the-principle-of-least-privilege#why?ts=markdown) * [What Are the Benefits of the Principle of Least Privilege?](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-the-principle-of-least-privilege#what?ts=markdown) * [How to Implement PoLP in your organization](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-the-principle-of-least-privilege#organization?ts=markdown) * [Get PoLP with ZTNA 2.0 on Prisma Access](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-the-principle-of-least-privilege#get?ts=markdown) * [Principle of Least Privilege Access FAQs](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-the-principle-of-least-privilege#faqs?ts=markdown) * [What Is Cloud Infrastructure Entitlement Management (CIEM)?](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-ciem?ts=markdown) * [Why Is CIEM Important to Your Cloud Security Strategy?](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-ciem#why?ts=markdown) * [What Are the Components of CIEM?](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-ciem#what?ts=markdown) * [How Is CIEM Used?](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-ciem#how?ts=markdown) * [How Does CIEM Improves Cloud Security?](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-ciem#security?ts=markdown) * [Key Security Benefits of CIEM](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-ciem#key?ts=markdown) * [Discover CIEM | Prisma Cloud](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-ciem#discover?ts=markdown) * [CIEM FAQs](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-ciem#faqs?ts=markdown) * [What is Multifactor Authentication (MFA) Implementation?](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-mfa-implementation?ts=markdown) * [Why MFA Implementation is Important](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-mfa-implementation#why?ts=markdown) * [Planning Your MFA Implementation Strategy](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-mfa-implementation#planning?ts=markdown) * [Step-by-Step Guide to Implementing MFA](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-mfa-implementation#step?ts=markdown) * [Overcoming Challenges in MFA Implementation](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-mfa-implementation#overcoming?ts=markdown) * [Best Practices for Maintaining Effective MFA](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-mfa-implementation#best?ts=markdown) * [Evaluating the Success of MFA Deployment](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-mfa-implementation#evaluating?ts=markdown) * [MFA Implementation FAQs](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-mfa-implementation#faqs?ts=markdown) * [What Is Identity and Access Management (IAM)?](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-identity-and-access-management?ts=markdown) * [What Is Identity and Access Management?](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-identity-and-access-management#what?ts=markdown) * [Why Is IAM Important?](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-identity-and-access-management#why?ts=markdown) * [IAM vs. PAM](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-identity-and-access-management#iam-vs-pam?ts=markdown) * [Cloud IAM vs. On-Prem IAM](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-identity-and-access-management#vs?ts=markdown) * [IAM Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-identity-and-access-management#iam-security?ts=markdown) * [Identity and Access Management FAQs](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-identity-and-access-management#faq?ts=markdown) # What Is Authentication and Authorization? 3 min. read [Explore Identity Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/identity-security?ts=markdown) Table of Contents * * [Authentication and Authorization Explained](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-authentication-and-authorization#explained?ts=markdown) * [Differentiating Authentication from Authorization](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-authentication-and-authorization#authentication?ts=markdown) * [Authorization Models: RBAC, ABAC, and Policy Enforcement](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-authentication-and-authorization#models?ts=markdown) * [Lateral Movement and Attacker Workflow](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-authentication-and-authorization#workflow?ts=markdown) * [Cloud Security Implications for Authorization](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-authentication-and-authorization#cloud?ts=markdown) * [Zero Trust Alignment with Access Control](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-authentication-and-authorization#control?ts=markdown) * [Authentication and Authorization FAQs](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-authentication-and-authorization#faqs?ts=markdown) 1. Authentication and Authorization Explained * * [Authentication and Authorization Explained](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-authentication-and-authorization#explained?ts=markdown) * [Differentiating Authentication from Authorization](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-authentication-and-authorization#authentication?ts=markdown) * [Authorization Models: RBAC, ABAC, and Policy Enforcement](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-authentication-and-authorization#models?ts=markdown) * [Lateral Movement and Attacker Workflow](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-authentication-and-authorization#workflow?ts=markdown) * [Cloud Security Implications for Authorization](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-authentication-and-authorization#cloud?ts=markdown) * [Zero Trust Alignment with Access Control](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-authentication-and-authorization#control?ts=markdown) * [Authentication and Authorization FAQs](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-authentication-and-authorization#faqs?ts=markdown) Authentication and authorization are the core security services that govern identity and resource access within any network, cloud, or application environment. Authentication (AuthN) verifies the identity of a user or device, typically via credentials. Authorization (AuthZ) determines what that verified identity can do, accessing specific data or performing actions. Together, these processes form the foundation of effective access control, limiting exposure and enforcing the Principle of Least Privilege. Key Points * **Access control**: AuthN verifies identity; AuthZ grants permission. \* **Identity Check**: AuthN verifies identity using factors such as passwords or biometrics. \* **Permissioning**: AuthZ applies policies (e.g., RBAC, ABAC) to determine resource access. \* **Attack Enablers**: Unit 42 research links excess entitlements (weak AuthZ) to faster lateral movement. \* **Zero Trust**: Effective access control is a mandatory pillar of Zero Trust architecture. \* **Machine Access**: Machine identities require the same stringent AuthN/AuthZ processes as human users. \* **Cloud Focus**: Cloud environments introduce unique challenges related to misconfigured access policies. ## Authentication and Authorization Explained Authentication and Authorization are the dual mechanisms that secure modern digital resources. They operate sequentially, ensuring that a requesting entity is both legitimate and appropriately entitled to interact with a system. AuthN always precedes AuthZ. Without a successfully authenticated identity, no system can accurately enforce an authorization policy. The critical distinction is intent: * **Authentication is an act of verification**. It answers the question, "Are you who you claim to be?" * **Authorization is an act of permissioning**. It answers the question, "Are you allowed to do what you are trying to do?" A failure in either process creates a significant gap in [identity security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-identity-security?ts=markdown). For organizations committed to comprehensive security, strict adherence to access control policies is paramount and directly supports the [principle of least privilege](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-the-principle-of-least-privilege?ts=markdown). ## Differentiating Authentication from Authorization While often grouped together, authentication (AuthN) and authorization (AuthZ) serve distinct purposes in the access lifecycle. Understanding this difference is essential for designing resilient [security architectures](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-security-architecture?ts=markdown), particularly as organizations adopt identity-centric security models. AuthN methods verify identity based on one or more factors: * something the user knows (a password) * something the user has (a token or device) * something the user is (biometrics) Once an identity is confirmed, the system must then consult its access policy to determine the scope of permissions. This policy check is the authorization phase. Without strong identity and access management, the entire authorization framework is inherently vulnerable. **Comparison of Core Access Control Concepts** | **Feature** | **Authentication (AuthN)** | **Authorization (AuthZ)** | |-----------------------|---------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------| | **Primary Goal** | Identity Verification | Permission Granting | | **Question Answered** | Who are you? | What can you do? | | **Inputs Used** | Credentials, MFA tokens, Biometrics, Certificates | Access Policies, Roles, Attributes | | **Result** | Success/Failure to log in | Access/Denial to a resource/action | | **Focus Area** | Initial access, Session establishment | Continuous access, Transaction validity | ***Table 1**: How Authentication and Authorization Compare* ## Authorization Models: RBAC, ABAC, and Policy Enforcement Security architects rely on structured authorization models to manage access at scale. These frameworks move beyond simple binary permissioning to manage the complexities of modern enterprise environments, including [cloud services](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/cloud-security-service-cloud-storage-and-cloud-technology?ts=markdown) and distributed resources. ### 1. Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) RBAC assigns permissions to roles, not individual users. This simplifies management. A user is granted access by assigning them a predefined role (e.g., 'Database Administrator,' 'Marketing Analyst'). * **Benefit**: Easy to implement, audit, and understand, particularly in smaller environments. * **Limitation**: Can lead to excess entitlements if roles are too broad or if users accumulate permissions from multiple past roles. ### 2. Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) ABAC is a dynamic, fine-grained model. Access decisions are based on a combination of attributes related to the user, the resource, the requested action, and the environment. * **User Attributes**: Department, clearance level, job title. * **Resource Attributes**: Sensitivity, file type, location. * **Environmental Attributes**: Time of day, IP address, device posture. * **Benefit**: Provides highly precise control, critical for complex cloud and application environments. ### 3. Policy-Based Authorization (PBA) PBA is an overarching concept where access rules are defined as human-readable policies (e.g., "Allow any Finance user in North America to read Expense Reports on weekdays between 9 AM and 5 PM"). This approach is foundational to [zero trust security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-a-zero-trust-architecture?ts=markdown) because it enables real time evaluation of access decisions for every request, rather than relying on an assumed trust boundary. ## Lateral Movement and Attacker Workflow Weak authorization is a primary enabler for successful post-initial-access attacks. [Unit 42 research](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/resources/research/unit-42-incident-response-report?ts=markdown) consistently identifies the exploitation of excess entitlements as a critical stage in the attacker lifecycle. A successfully authenticated threat actor uses [credential theft](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-a-credential-based-attack?ts=markdown) to gain access. If the associated identity has more permissions than needed---a violation of least privilege---the attacker can [move laterally](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-lateral-movement?ts=markdown) to higher-value assets. ### Three Authorization Flaws Explored by Unit 42 1. **Stale Accounts and Entitlements** : Former employees or contractors often retain dormant permissions. These accounts are prime targets for credential theft and subsequent use in privilege escalation. Attackers can quietly use these standing privileges to [exfiltrate data](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/data-exfiltration?ts=markdown). 2. **Machine Identity Exposure** : Automated systems, like [containers](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-a-container?ts=markdown) and [CI/CD pipelines](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-the-ci-cd-pipeline-and-ci-cd-security?ts=markdown), have their own identities and privileges. Misconfigured access keys or overly permissive service accounts allow threat actors to pivot from a single vulnerable machine to an entire cloud infrastructure, resulting in significant unauthorized access. 3. **Credential Leakage** : After an initial compromise, attackers use tools such as [XSIAM](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-extended-security-intelligence-and-automation-management-xsiam?ts=markdown) to disrupt the attack chain. The presence of unneeded, long-lived access tokens (a form of standing authorization) facilitates the quick pivot to adjacent systems. The ultimate goal for the defender is to use context-aware security to detect and block the lateral movement before it reaches the target resource. ## Cloud Security Implications for Authorization The shift to cloud environments has significantly complicated authorization management. Traditional perimeter-based models fail when resources are distributed across multiple providers (AWS, Azure, GCP). Cloud platforms use their own sophisticated, but often complex, [Identity and Access Management (IAM)](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-identity-and-access-management?ts=markdown) systems. ### Key Cloud Authorization Risks * **Misconfigured Identity Policies**: Overly permissive IAM policies are the most common risk. A policy granting \* (all access) to a resource is a serious cloud misconfiguration that can lead to full account compromise. * **Role Chaining**: Attackers exploit policy gaps that allow them to assume a sequence of lower-privilege roles to eventually gain a high-privilege role, a clear path for privilege escalation. * **[Shared Responsibility](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/cloud-security-is-a-shared-responsibility?ts=markdown) Gaps**: Organizations often fail to manage the access policies they are responsible for, relying on cloud provider defaults that often include standing permissions. * **[Non-Human Identity](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-a-non-human-identity?ts=markdown) Proliferation** : Managing access for thousands of functions, containers, and serverless compute instances creates a massive attack surface that requires [automated identity governance](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-identity-governance-and-administration-iga?ts=markdown). This mandates stringent security protocols and continuous monitoring of all cloud security settings. ## Zero Trust Alignment with Access Control A zero trust architecture fundamentally relies on rigorous authentication and authorization at every access decision point. This model abandons the concept of implicit trust based on network location. Instead, it mandates that every user, device, and application be verified and authorized before granting access to any resource. **Zero Trust Pillars Reinforced by AuthN/AuthZ** | **Zero Trust Pillar** | **Authorization Role** | **Implementation Strategy** | |-------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | **Verify Explicitly** | Mandatory re-authorization for changing context. | Enforcing [Just-in-Time (JIT) access](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-just-in-time-access-jit?ts=markdown) policies. | | **Use Least Privilege** | Access granted only for the duration and scope needed. | Implementing temporary, non-standing privileges. | | **Assume Breach** | Segmentation of access to contain attacks. | Integrating AuthZ with [network segmentation](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-network-segmentation?ts=markdown) to limit blast radius. | ***Table 2**: Zero Trust Pillars Reinforced by AuthN and AuthZ* For a successful zero trust deployment, authorization must transition from static models (RBAC) to dynamic, context-aware ones (ABAC). Access must be ephemeral, minimizing standing privileges and ensuring that even a compromised identity cannot execute widespread lateral movement. ## Authentication and Authorization FAQs ### What is the difference between standing and non-standing privileges? Standing Privileges are permissions that are always active for an identity, such as a permanent administrator account. Non-standing (or Just-in-Time) Privileges are granted dynamically upon request, only after strict approval, and are automatically revoked after a short, defined period. ### How does AuthN/AuthZ apply to machine identities? Machine identities, such as API keys, service accounts, and code signing certificates, must be authenticated and authorized just like human users. Their credentials must be rotated frequently and protected in a secure vault to prevent exploitation. ### What is the Principle of Least Privilege (PoLP)? PoLP is a security design concept requiring that an identity is granted only the minimum necessary permissions to perform its duties, for the minimum amount of time. It acts as the primary governing rule for effective authorization, sharply reducing the potential impact of a compromise. ### Can an attacker bypass authorization without authentication? Generally, no. An attacker must first authenticate---or bypass authentication via weak credentials or phishing---to acquire a valid identity, which is then subject to authorization checks. However, a system with a logic flaw in its authorization can be exploited even with a valid, low-privilege identity. What role does Just-in-Time (JIT) Access play in authorization? JIT access is a strategic enforcement mechanism for the Principle of Least Privilege. It ensures that privileged access, which grants broad authorization, is not standing. Instead, permissions are granted for a specific task and revoked once the task is complete. Related Content [Cyberpedia: What is Zero Trust Architecture? Understand how authentication and authorization serve as the bedrock of a zero trust framework.](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-a-zero-trust-architecture?ts=markdown) [Whitepaper: Architecting the Zero Trust Enterprise A comprehensive design guide for securing users and infrastructure through continuous validation of every digital interaction.](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/resources/guides/zero-trust-overview?ts=markdown) [Datasheet: Prisma SASE \& ZTNA 2.0 Discover how Prisma SASE provides unified policy management and granular authorization.](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/resources/datasheets/prisma-sase?ts=markdown) [Tech Docs: Configuring Authentication Policy Step-by-step documentation on setting up MFA, SAML, and Kerberos to enforce secure access.](https://docs.paloaltonetworks.com/ngfw/administration/authentication) ![Share page on facebook](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/etc/clientlibs/clean/imgs/resources/facebook-circular-icon.svg) ![Share page on linkedin](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/etc/clientlibs/clean/imgs/resources/linkedin-circular-icon.svg) [![Share page by an email](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/etc/clientlibs/clean/imgs/resources/email-circular-icon.svg)](mailto:?subject=Authentication%20and%20Authorization%20Explained&body=Master%20the%20essentials%20of%20authentication%20and%20authorization.%20Learn%20how%20identity%20verification%20and%20granular%20access%20controls%20secure%20your%20network%20within%20a%20Zero%20Trust%20framework.%20at%20https%3A//www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-authentication-and-authorization) Back to Top [Previous](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-passwordless-authentication?ts=markdown) What Is Passwordless Authentication? 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